Kenya

Ruto Orders Ministers to Lead His 2027 Campaigns

In what promises to be a turbulent political season next year, President William Ruto has controversially instructed Cabinet Secretaries to oversee his re-election campaign. Consequently, the ministers have led political initiatives in their counties, promoting the Kenya Kwanza administration through partisan programmes masquerading as development projects. “I will take charge of leading this region in supporting President Ruto. We don’t want our people misled into backing politicians who have no chance in the coming elections.” Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said at a recent event in Siaya County. Under the guise of development tours, the Cabinet Secretaries have launched an assertive campaign to garner support for the President whilst emphasising the administration’s projects.

(Source: Daily Nation)

Tanzania

Police Assure Public of Calm After Security Organs Thwart Planned Protests

The Tanzania Police Force assured the public that the nation’s security remains stable following heightened overnight security operations carried out in coordination with other defence and security agencies. In a statement issued on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, the police stated that, as previously pledged at 12:00 am on 9 December 2025, security agencies had successfully reinforced security measures nationwide overnight and into the morning of 10 December 2025, resulting in a calm and orderly start to the day across the country. The police revealed that individuals organising so-called “peaceful and indefinite” demonstrations had devised at least 13 criminal tactics through online chat groups and other digital platforms, including plans to disrupt the country’s economic and social activities by demanding a nationwide shutdown.

(Source: The Citizen)

Uganda

NPP Clashes with EC On Directive to Vacate Polling Stations

Following a recent directive by the Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, instructing voters to vacate polling stations immediately after casting their votes, the National Peasants’ Party (NPP) has, contrary to this, launched a campaign mobilising Ugandans to stay and guard their votes diligently. According to NPP leadership, the campaign, titled “Kalonde, Tovawo Ekijja Kijje (Cast your vote, don’t move an inch, come what may),” aims to protect votes and empower citizens to lawfully observe the voting process. Addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala yesterday, the party Secretary General, Sharif Ssentongo, explained that the campaign was prompted by what he described as an unconstitutional and intimidating instruction from the EC chairperson. “Let the process of counting the votes be for polling agents and candidate agents or observers, if any, who will be at the polling stations. “Let the process of counting the votes be for polling agents and candidate agents or observers, if any, who will be at the polling stations. Please let us respect the law,” Justice Simon Byabakama stated during a meeting with the agents of presidential candidates and security agencies. Ssentongo, however, emphasised that such a statement fosters fear and undermines citizens’ participation in ensuring electoral transparency, insisting that no law requires a voter to vacate the area after voting. Voters can, at most, remain at least 20 metres away from the polling station.

(Source: Monitor)

RWANDA

Tshisekedi Accuses Rwanda of Violating Peace Deal

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday accused Rwanda of violating its commitments to a US-brokered peace deal aimed at ending years of conflict in the country’s mineral-rich east, just days after attending a signing ceremony in Washington. Tshisekedi made the accusations in a speech to lawmakers. There was no immediate response from Rwanda. The US State Department urged Rwanda to prevent escalation. Deadly clashes have marred efforts to begin implementing the terms of US and Qatar-brokered agreements brokered in recent months between Congo, Rwanda, and the rebel group M23.

(Source: Business Daily)

Ethiopia

General Elections to be Held in June 2026

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced on 9th December that the 7th General Election will be held on 1 June 2026. NEBE Chairperson Melatwork Hailu briefed the media on pre-election activities undertaken for the upcoming election. According to her, various efforts have been made to ensure the success of the 7th General Election. The chairperson stated that activities to establish branch offices and ensure polling stations are suitable have been completed. Political parties have also received training enabling them to promote their programmes to the public, she added. Candidate registration will be conducted via the software developed by the Board, Melatwork revealed, noting that parties or individual candidates can register themselves using the software. Voter registration will be carried out both through the software developed by the Board and manually. The Board is also finalising registration software for observers.

(Source: ENA)

Eritrea

President Afwerki Meets With Special Envoy of China

President Isaias Afwerki met with a Chinese delegation led by Hu Changchun, the Special Envoy for Horn of Africa Affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in Adi Halo. At the meeting, President Isaias underlined the imperative for China to foster ties of constructive engagement with Africa and to strengthen capacity-building in these crucial times of global change in a manner not encumbered by a sheer competitive perspective. President Isaias further referred to China’s potential role in helping resolve conflicts in the Horn of Africa, which are often fomented and exacerbated by the intervention of major external powers. He also affirmed that Eritrea will strive to consolidate the warm, 70-year-old, all-rounded bilateral ties with China.

(Source: Shabait)

Sudan

ICC Sentences Sudanese Janjaweed Leader Ali Kushayb to 20 Years for Darfur Atrocities

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced former Janjaweed commander Ali Muhammad Ali Abdelrahman, known as ‘Ali Kushayb’ and feared in Darfur as the “Colonel of Colonels,” to 20 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in 2003–2004. The sentence, handed down in The Hague, follows his October conviction on 27 counts, including murder, torture, persecution, rape, and the forcible displacement of civilians. Judges found him guilty beyond a “reasonable doubt” of directing and personally carrying out attacks on non-Arab communities during some of the bloodiest months of the Darfur conflict. Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said Kushayb not only issued the orders that fuelled mass violence but “personally perpetrated” several of the crimes. His role as a senior Janjaweed commander placed him at the centre of atrocities that devastated villages across West Darfur.

(Source: Dabanga)

Somalia

UN Security Council Set to Renew AUSSOM Mandate

The United Nations Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) before it expires at the end of December. The council will also review updates to the Al-Shabaab sanctions under Resolution 2713, including maritime restrictions, which are set to expire on 13 December. These decisions coincide with the completion of the term of the 2713 Sanctions Committee’s expert panel, whose mandate ends on 13 January 2026. Observers note that these updates are crucial, as AUSSOM faces financial challenges that affect both its operations and the United Nations Support Office for Somalia (UNSOS). African Union officials recently issued an urgent appeal to the international community to provide reliable, continuous funding, emphasising that without such support, the salaries, supplies, and operations of AUSSOM troops could be compromised. They warned that a funding shortfall could undermine gains made against Al-Shabaab and jeopardise the security of liberated areas, posing serious risks to Somali communities.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)